Depending on who you listen to, the Great Recession is either over or still going on. While politicians and economists ponder the fate of the recession, small business owners know that their success relies more on their ability to stay abreast of finance trends than on the opinion of any pundit.

Here are seven small business finance trends that small business owners should be aware of:

1. Trade credit is rebounding. More small businesses are arranging to buy goods or services on account, without making immediate cash or charge card payments. In fact, the Association of Credit Managers’ index of trade credit extended grew to 58.7 in September 2010, up from 46.1 in June 2009.

2. Cash flow problems may continue. A recent survey found that the number of small business owners who say they’re experiencing cash flow problems increased 4 percent between June 2009 and October 2010. Fortunately, the right credit or charge card can help entrepreneurs better manage their cash flow. Companies like American Express have a range of charge card products that can address small business owners’ changing finance needs, from a Business Platinum card that offers rewards and business travel benefits, to the Plum Card that allows you to decide when and how much of your balance to pay.

3. It’s cheaper to get started. Technology has made it possible to start a variety of businesses with little infrastructure and start-up cost. With the cost of starting a business decreasing, more entrepreneurs will be able to fund their own companies and be competitive with larger ones.

4. If your business didn’t have to write off some bad debt during the recession, you were one of the few who escaped the burden of unpaid receivables. Perhaps driven by this experience, more small businesses are better managing the credit they extend to customers and keeping better track of their receivables. Manage your working capital well, and cash will flow.

5. Understanding your own company’s financial numbers will increasingly be more important than following the nuances of the financial markets. Controlling cash flow, reducing costs, managing strong marketing efforts, and knowing the demographics of your current and potential customers will be far more valuable to your small business than worrying about the broader strokes of the overall market.

6. Micropayments and subscriptions provide small businesses a new, innovative way to profit and serve their customers at the same time. Small, one-time charges and small, monthly subscription fees may be preferable to many consumers, and can provide a steady revenue stream to a small business.

7. More entrepreneurs will seek – and find – financial education specific to small businesses. Financial education can be found in many places, from forums on the Internet to your local university or community college. With more schools and advisers offering courses and advice aimed at small businesses, any entrepreneur who wants to expand his knowledge to grow his business won’t have any trouble finding educational resources to help him do so.